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The word reconcile is a word we probably don’t use much in our everyday conversation, at least I know I don’t. It’s one of those “big words” that just doesn’t seem to come up much. I tried to think about how I would define it, and I was having trouble coming up with my own description of this word. So, I turned to Google, which says that the verb “reconcile” has two meanings:
Restore friendly relations between people.
Cause to coexist in harmony; make or show to be compatible

So, to be reconciled with another person means to be in right relationship with them. There is no division in a reconciled relationship. But how does that relate to the Christian faith? We read about the ministry of reconciliation in 2 Corinthians 5:17-21:

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

That’s a pretty complex passage, and there’s a lot we could discuss in it. But since our word this week is reconcile, let’s focus on that. We see that not only are we (referring to those who believe in Christ as their savior) reconciled to God, but that He is reconciling the world to Himself as well - both of these through Christ. Christ is the only way that you and I can become in right relationship with God again, since we have all sinned and broken God’s law. Our sin and disobedience have broken our relationship with God, and there is no way we can make that right on our own; we need Christ and His death on the cross to do that for us.

Jesus Christ never committed any sin. But, He took on every sin that each one of us has committed or will commit so that we have the opportunity to be reconciled and restored to right relationship with God. Paul, the author of this passage, is imploring us to take Christ up on this offer; He went through so much to give us this opportunity that the least we can do is seize it!

It is most important for us to be reconciled into right relationship with God so that we can receive the gifts of His love and eternal life, as well as so He can give us the strength and courage to reconcile our earthly relationships with one another.

I encourage you today to examine your life. First of all, do you need any reconciliation in your relationship with God? Once you pursue that, do you need to reconcile any relationships with other people? Use the passage above as a starting point to begin your own ministry of reconciliation today.